Yarn brake

ABSTRACT

A yarn brake comprises at least one compartment, the bottom wall of which rises towards the center conically, and a small round plate in the compartment capable of resting on the bottom wall. The conduit for the yarn is in the middle of the bottom wall. The diameter of the plate is greater than the height of the compartment and is such, with respect to the width of the brake, that, when the plate rests on the bottom wall, the conduit for the yarn is covered. Preferably more than one compartment is present, and the brake is provided with a tube in the middle, the level of which is adjustable, so that the number of compartments which enter into operation, is controllable.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Anton Welbers;

Karl Ring, both of Wildtal, near Frieburg im Breisgan, Germany 1211 Appl. No. 837,860 [22] Filed June 30, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Rhodeaceta A.G.

Freiburg im Breisgan, Germany [32] Priority June 29, 1968 1 1 Germany [31] Pl760769.1

[ 54] YARN BRAKE 12 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

[52] US. Cl 57/58.86, 242/153 [51] Int. Cl D0111 7/86, DOlh 13/10, B65h 59/20 [50] Field of Search 57/53.83, 58.86, 106, 113,523.49, 34; 242/147, 149, 150, 153, 154

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,397,153 3/1946 Navmann 242/154 Primary Examiner-Donald E. Watkins AtrorneyFernanda M. Fiordalisi ABSTRACT: A yarn brake comprises at least one compartment, the bottom wall of which rises towards the center conically, and a small round plate in the compartment capable of resting on the bottom wall. The conduit for the yarn is in the middle of the bottom wall. The diameter of the plate is greater than the height of the compartment and is such, with respect to the width of the brake, that, when the plate rests on the bottom wall, the conduit for the yarn is covered. Preferably more than one compartment is present, and the brake is provided with a tube in the middle, the level of which is adjustable, so that the number of compartments which enter into operation, is controllable.

YARN BRAKE This invention relates to yarns and more specifically to a novel device for controlling the tension of yarns.

During the operations of twisting spindles or spool spindles, and particularly two-for-one twisting spindles, it is necessary to install yarn brakes, because it is necessary to maintain in a precise manner, the required tension of the yarn, particularly with thin yarns. A variety of yarn brakes are known, such as for instance, brakes in the form of discs, coning machines, magnetic lamellae, magnetic rollers, ball brakes and bow brakes. These brakes are described in German Pat. No. 1,006.764; German Pat. No. 1,101,238; German Pat. No. 1,184,681; German Pat. No. 1,010,879; French Pat. No. 1,409,961; and German Pat No. 968,222.

In the case of hollow spindle brakes, and particularly twofor-one twisting spindles, several requirements exist. The brakes must offer substantial adjustability, and they must be able to adjust to the thinness of the yarn. Further, it is important that the braking action be uniform and that it remain constant also over a prolonged period of time and even with spindles which vibrate. The braking devices must also have, to a sufficient degree, the ability to resist deformation under tension impact and sufficient resistance to wear and tear. Another requirement is that the brakes be free from dirt and that they offer easy threadability. A further requirement is that they prevent damage to the yarn, such as squeezing-01f of the yarn.

- None of the brakes known in the art satisfies all these requirements at one time, and it has been necessary up to now to use brakes in spite of their shortcomings and brakes which are inadequate for one or more reasons.

An object of this invention is to provide a yarn brake which eliminates all the drawbacks of the other brakes known in the art, which adjusts itself easily to the fineness of the yarn and which offers a uniform and constant braking action.

Another object is to provide a brake which may be easily kept clean, and which does not damage the yarn. A further object is to provide a brake which may be constructed of durable material.

The brake in accordance with this invention comprises one or more compartments, the bottom supports of which rise towards the center to give a conical shape. The conduit for the yarn goes through the bottom support of each compartment. Each compartment is provided with a small round braking plate. An essential feature of the invention is that the diameter of the plate is of such length that the conduit for the yarn is still covered when the plate rests against the edge of the compartment. Moreover, the length of the diameter of the plate is so selected that the height of each compartment is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the plate.

The brake in accordance with this invention contains a variable number of compartments, as desired. The small plates which exert the braking action on the yarn must be round.

The invention is further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawing which is a cross-sectional view of the brake. The brake 1 consists of several compartments, designated by the numeral '10. The small round plates, designated by the numeral 5, are of such dimensions that they still cover the middle of the conduit for the yarn, shown at 7, but are of diameter long enough that the height of each of the compartments is smaller than the diameter of the plates. For this reason, the plates cannot stand completely upright vertically, and they fall back into the old position, that is, on the support shown at 6. The latter serves simultaneously as the bottom wall for the compartment. Each support 6, which serves at the bottom wall for each compartment, is not flat, but slightly inclined with respect to the braking compartment. For this reason, also the plate 5 lies in an inclined position.

The width of the compartment is selected in such a manner that the center of gravity of the plate 5 lying on the support 6 will still rest within the range of the support 6 and will not reach the conduit 7. In this manner, between the edge of the plate and the support 6, there remains a free gap 11 which permits passage of the yarn 9. The direction of the travel of the yarn is shown by the arrows 12. The yarn loops around the edge of the plates and the edge of the conduit 7.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a tube 2 is placed in the middle of the brake. The tube is provided with notches 3, which by displacement of the tube 2, engage with the notch designated by the numeral 4 located in the collar of the brake. In this manner, the middle tube 2 may al ways be held at different levels of the brake. The combination of the middle tube 2 together with the notches 3 and 4 makes it possible to put some of the compartments 10 out of operation, so that, if it is desired to lower the tension of the yarn, only a part of the brake is in operation. FIG. 1 shown one; embodiment of the brake, in which the two upper compartments are totally inoperative.

One advantage of the round configuration of the small braking plates 5 is that the plates may always be kept in slight motion. Due to this motion, the plates are kept clean from the dirt which is formed as a result of the rubbing of the yarn upon the support 6.

If the tension on the yarn increases, because of a slight thickening of the thread or because of a fluff in the yarn, one might assume that the gap 11 would become smaller because the strong tension on the yarn would pull the plate downwardly. This however does not occur. As a result of the low resting point of the small plate on the outer edge of the support 6, the small plate would have to slide still further across the conduit 7, if the outer edge of the plate, which rests against the wall of the compartment, were going up. This effect, however, is counteracted by the increased tension of the yarn. The novel construction of the device of this invention produces the opposite result. The small plate 5 moves upwardly with its edge above the opening because of the strong tension on the yarn from above. Thus, the conduit 7 opens to a greater extent. Simultaneously the gap 11 becomes bigger and the sudden cause of disturbance, for instance the fluff, may slide easily through the conduit 7, because simultaneously, the angle of the looping yarn is stretched and the tension in the brake decreases. Since the plate 5 cannot stand upright, it falls back to its original position. The braking action is brought back in this manner to its original value.

Manifestly the brake of this invention is the result of an ingenious combination of simple elements together with the application of well-known laws of physics.

The brake of this invention exhibits very high uniformity in its braking action even over a prolonged period of time and also with vibrating spindles. The device cleans itself automatically of dirt, because the plates in the brake move easily. The plates are adjustable, through the operation of the tube 2, which controls very precisely the selection of the appropriate number of operational compartments. The brakes in accordance with this invention, have good resistance to wear and tear, because the support 6 as well as the plates may be made of hard and durable material, for instance sintered corundum.

The brake in accordance with this invention is readily threadable and satisfies all the requirements of a good brake to be used with two-for-one twisting spindles. The extent of the braking action may be increased or decreased by the use of a greater or smaller number or operational compartments.-

The thickness of the small round plates of the brake of this invention may be varied and the desired intermediate value may be provided according to the particular application involved. The thickness influences the degree of the braking action, because a thicker plate is accompanied by a wider looping of the yarn and the change in weight exhibits a greater braking action.

What is claimed is:

l. A yarn brake which comprises at least one compartment, support means at the bottom thereof rising towards the center of the brake conically, conduit means for the yarn in the middle of said support means, and at least one small round-plate capable of resting upon said support means in the compartment, the diameter of the round plate being so selected with respect to the width and the height of the brake that when the plate rests on said support means, the conduit means for the yarn are covered, the height of the compartment being smallerthan the diameter of the plate.

2. The brake according to claim 1 which comprises a plurality of compartment and a plurality of round plates.

3. The brake according to claim 2, additionally comprising means for controlling the number of compartments in operation.

4. The brake according to claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of the plate rests within the range of said bottom support means.

5. The brake according to claim 4 wherein passage means for the yarn are defined between the terminal portion of the plate and said bottom support means.

6. The brake according to claim 3 wherein said means for controlling the number of compartments in operation consist of a tube having notches thereon, and the brake contains means in its upper portion engageable with the notches on the tube whereby the height of the tube is controlled.

7. The brake according to claim 2 wherein the plates have different diameter in the different compartments.

8. The brake according to claim 2 wherein the plates have different thickness.

9. The brake according to claim 2 wherein the plates in each of the compartments are made of different materials.

10 The brake according to claim 1 wherein the plate and said support means are made of corundum.

11. A two-for-one twisting spindle in combination with a yarn brake according to claim 1.

12. A hollow spindle in combination with a yarn brake according to claim 1. 

1. A yarn brake which comprises at least one compartment, support means at the bottom thereof rising towards the center of the brake conically, conduit means for the yarn in the middle of said support means, and at least one small round plate capable of resting upon said support means in the compartment, the diameter of the round plate being so selected with respect to the width and the height of the brake that when the plate rests on said support means, the conduit means for the yarn are covered, the height of the compartment being smaller than the diameter of the plate.
 2. The brake according to claim 1 which comprises a plurality of compartment and a plurality of round plates.
 3. The brake according to claim 2, additionally comprising means for controlling the number of compartments in operation.
 4. The brake according to claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of the plate rests within the range of said bottom support means.
 5. The brake according to claim 4 wherein passage means for the yarn are defined between the terminal portion of the plate and said bottom support means.
 6. The brake according to claim 3 wherein said means for controlling the number of compartments in operation consist of a tube having notches thereon, and the brake contains means in its upper portion engageable with the notches on the tube whereby the height of the tube is controlled.
 7. The brake according to claim 2 wherein the plates have different diameter in the different compartments.
 8. The brake according to claim 2 wherein the plates have different thickness.
 9. The brake according to claim 2 wherein the plates in each of the compartments are made of different materials. 10 The brake according to claim 1 wherein the plate and said support means are made of corundum.
 11. A two-for-one twisting spindle in combination with a yarn brake according to claim
 1. 12. A hollow spindle in combination with a yarn brake according to claim
 1. 